On this day we went into town for a last visit to Fred Aldous (a huge Manchester art materials store) and I indulged again by buying paper and some Caran D’Ache water soluble neocolour II Aquarelle crayons and some Faber-Castell watercolour pencils (which I used in this sketch). Afterwards we had coffee (to get out of a sudden shower of rain) at this place nearby and then went back to helping our daughter with more packing.
Wed-5-Aug-2026
Here is a late night sketch going back to a simple subject that I love to sketch (and collect of course)…art materials! These are my three favourite brushes: a Rosemary and Co. dagger travel brush, a Winsor & Newton squirrel mop brush and a (new) Faber-Castell water brush.
Wed-13-May-2026
On this day I spent part of my evening fiddling about squeezing in an extra few colours to my mini palette – so I got all my paints out. Do I have too many?
Wed-29-Apr-2026
I have been trying (and kind of failing) to reduce what I carry about daily for sketching. This kit includes, my mini watercolour set, water, a few Derwent watercolour pencils, a black pencil, a Sailor Fude pen, a Platinum Preppy pen, a TWSBI pen, some tissues, a uni-ball pen, a water brush, a white Posca pen, a big squirrel brush, a syringe, a kneadable eraser, a little water pot, a Rosemary and Co. dagger brush and a wrist band for wiping my brushes.
Wed-22-Apr-2026
My wife was given a little tin box to put watercolours in and seeing it, I couldn’t resist buying one myself. I have put a basic range of 6 colours in half-pans in it (though I might split some of these into two quarter pans), including some relatively new colours that I don’t use often. It’s so small (just 6x5cm) that it fits in my roll up pencil case.
Mon-20-Apr-2026
This is the ink I got from my daughters for my birthday. It’s Sailor Seiboku, a lovely turquoise blue, water resistant and, so far, has shown no sign of blocking my preppy pen. The paper is from a 160gsm Mixed Media pad from Artists Loft – which I bought in Canada last year. So far it is pretty good – smooth to draw on, doesn’t pill too much and it can take quite a lot working. It does buckle a bit (understandable) and struggles with watercolour layers, but otherwise is good.
Tue-7-Apr-2026
After our sketch-walk at Tandang Sora, we went for lunch at the Gateway Mall and then walked to the Art Caravan store in the Katinko Building on the corner of Edsa and New York Street, where they were having a “warehouse sale” with up to 90% discounts on selected items. The sale goes on until 8 April and we went a bit mad. I bought these paints (mostly QOR brand and one Daler-Rowney)…and it turns out I bought mostly blues and greens!
Mon-23-Mar-2026
These are my wife’s paint brushes, two of which I bought for her at the Centris Market – second hand original Japanese brushes at a little stall called “Goods from Japan”. Thanks to Ray, Reuel and Randy for recommending it – what a find!
Mon-16-Mar-2026
In this sketch I am testing out a sample of #Umae watercolours that I was given at the #ArtSihan event on 5 October (from Gift Box). The range of colours in the bottom colour wheeel (for comparison) is the mix I have in my palette at the moment – mostly Holbein Watercolours and Daniel Smith. This sketch is also done on some new paper (#DalerRowney Smooth-Heavyweight 220 g/m2).
Fri-31-Oct-2025